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Cover of Do-Over

Do-Over

Christine Hurley Deriso (2006)

SubgenreEpic Fantasy
Age groupMiddle Grade 8-12
Content ratingPG
Pages (Quick Read (<250))
Setting
CSM age10
Goodreads3.92
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Content levels

ViolenceNone
Sexual contentNone
LanguageNone

Trigger warnings

Death of ParentGrief

Positive tags

Coming of AgeSelf-DiscoveryHeartwarmingSecond Chance

Hero archetypes

Outcast / Loner

Heroine archetypes

Coming-of-Age HeroineFish out of Water

Protagonist archetypes

Coming-of-Age Protagonist

Tropes

Fish out of WaterComing of AgeMagic AcademyAncient ArtifactTime Travel

Themes

GriefIdentityFitting inSecond ChancesFamily LossSelf-AcceptanceMiddle School Social Dynamics

Synopsis

Seventh-grader Elsa moves to a new town and starts a new school where, with the help of her recently deceased mother and a magic locket that allows her to redo the last ten seconds in any situation, she attempts to become popular.

Is Do-Over appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 10 and up.

A gentle contemporary fantasy about a grieving middle schooler using a magical locket to navigate social situations at a new school. Deals sensitively with parental death but focuses on healing and finding one's place.

What to know going in

This book has no graphic violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death of parent and grief.

Who'll love this

Kids will relate to the challenges of being the new kid and will love the magical do-over device that lets Elsa fix awkward moments.

Tags

Contemporary FantasyMagical RealismMiddle Grade Contemporary